A small group of protesters gathered outside the constituency office of Nova Scotia MLA Brendan Maguire on Friday, as Halifax residents called on the Community Services Minister to support legislation to end the use of fixed-term leases across the province .
Dharna program was organized Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (Acorn).
Heather Clark, president of ACORN’s Halifax division, said her organization is targeting Maguire’s office because he recently crossed the floor and joined the governing Progressive Conservative caucus.
“Last year, the Progressive Conservatives had an opportunity to ban fixed-term leases and they didn’t do it. Our homeless population grew from 200 to more than 1,200,” he said, as drivers honked their car horns toward the crowd of regularly chanting supporters.
“They left the city of Halifax and shelters like Beacon House and Adsum House to house these people. This has got to stop.”
Heather Clark, ACORN Halifax Mainland Chapter Chair.
Skye Bryden-Blom
Unlike periodic leases – such as month-to-month or year-to-year – fixed-term leases have fixed start and end dates, which means they do not automatically renew.
Critics have described fixed-term leases as a “loophole”. For landlords to get around the province’s five per cent rent limit, as the rent increase does not apply to new tenants.
Clark said “the majority of landlords” are only offering fixed-term leases.
He added, “They can use a periodic lease that allows it to continue from year to year, but landlords are not doing that.”
“People are scared. They are afraid that they will come to the streets. “They’re scared they’re going to lose their home and have no place to go.”
Clark said tenants are facing more barriers than ever when re-entering the rental market after a lease expires.
“If they have to move to a new unit where they have to pay double the rent, it will put more pressure on them,” he said.
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“This is going to lead to more hospitalizations, more pressure on social housing programs and other programs that support these people. “This is creating a very unhealthy society.”
Additionally, Clark said there is a timely element to ACORN’s rally on Friday. He said a bill is currently being introduced that could amend the existing law that allows the use of fixed-term rental agreements.
“Last year there was this opportunity but the Conservatives voted against it. We are begging them to approve that bill so that people can live a healthy lifestyle and have no worries and stress in their eyes,” he said, adding that additional legislation is being considered under which the Residential Tenancies Act will be amended. Changes can be made.
“This will input permanent rent control… It is fair to both parties. Not only for tenants but also for landlords. We need all these new programs so that people can feel comfortable in their homes and not have to worry about moving in year after year.
The province responds
In response to a request from Global News asking whether fixed-term leases are becoming more common across the province, Nova Scotia’s provincial government said it was unable to provide an accurate estimate.
“We understand the challenges Nova Scotians are facing with the tight rental market,” Service Nova Scotia spokesperson Geoff Tobin said in an emailed statement. “Lease or lease information for tenancies is not collected by the government.”
The response reiterated the province’s focus on increasing housing supply as opposed to adjusting regulations surrounding the existing rental market.
“The solution to these challenges is more housing, and as we work to increase our housing supply, we will continue to listen to tenants and landlords, doing what we can to balance the rights of both,” the statement said. “To assess the best steps we can take.” ,
‘Everyone is struggling with this’
Selena, a youth activist who did not provide Global News with her last name, was present at Friday’s rally. She said that she is seeing a large number of youth sleeping during her work.
“Not a week goes by when one of the youth I work with doesn’t struggle to find housing,” she said.
“Every week someone is losing the stable housing they had because of fixed-term leases or illegal evictions. This process is really hard to navigate, especially if you are someone who has never had to navigate it before.
Selena described fixed-term leases as a “violation of human rights”.
Housing advocates rallied outside Brendan McGuire’s constituency office on Friday.
Skye Bryden-Blom
“Everyone deserves a safe home and a roof over their head,” she said, adding that she would like to see more affordable housing available across the province.
Selena said she’s personally experienced the challenges of the current rental market — as she couldn’t find a place to call her own after her previous home was damaged during the severe floods that hit the province last year.
“I was homeless for a few months,” she said. “Everyone is struggling with this, no matter where you are on the spectrum.”
– With files from Skye Bryden-Blom
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